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Clydebank Shops Could be Stocking Dangerous Fake Booze, Warns Top Cop

Clydebank Shops Could be Stocking Dangerous Fake Booze, Warns Top Cop

Shops in Clydebank could be selling bottles of fake alcohol containing a poisonous chemical, a top cop has warned. Chief inspector Kenny Thomson, from Police Scotland’s specialist crime division, said people in the town are at risk of consuming dodgy booze that could cause serious health problems. The fake alcohol sold in shops and online could be spiked with the toxic chemical IPA Isopropanol Alcohol — which is generally found in screen wash for vehicles. Chief Inspector Thomson recently joined police colleagues in Clyde Shopping Centre to warn shoppers about the dangers of this alcohol and various other counterfeit goods sold in shops. He told the Post: “With alcohol, sold online, in some corner shops or abroad, counterfeiters substitute the alcohol to increase the volume. “For example, the vodka will more often than not contain a form of screen wash containing IPA Isopropanol Alcohol. IPA poisoning causes confusion and can be extremely painful. Even when consuming just low levels of the alcohol it will cause dizziness, low blood pressure, abdominal pain and nausea.”

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Fake vodka has been known to kill people before, due to toxic substances being included to increase the alcoholic volume. Linnvale Grocers, in Clydebank, was the first premises in West Dunbartonshire to have its licence revoked after trading standards officers uncovered the fake wine and reported it to the area’s licensing board in 2012. Police insist the problem remains and officers showed examples of counterfeit clothing, footwear, cosmetics, aftershaves, perfumes and electronics from a stall they had set up within the town’s shopping centre. Chief inspector Thomson continued: “Fake make-up products such as Mac have been found to contain chemicals, rat poisoning and lead. Some even contain rat droppings which apparently help to keep the colour. The sets of Mac brushes are poor quality and there have been occasions when there have been insect type eggs found in them as the fakes haven’t been properly sterilised.” And what may seem like a good deal could indeed be funding organised crime from the far east who exploit child labour, the top cop pressed. He added: “Counterfeit goods and illicit trade have links to organised crime and we are focused on targeting these people who put harmful products into our communities for their own financial gains. All they care about is making money — they don’t care about the consequences of selling these products to unwitting customers. “If you want to spot counterfeit goods, the price, packaging and where they’re being sold from are normally good indicators as to whether the item is genuine or not. If the price seems too good to be true then it probably is. “Fake products are often sold at markets and on unofficial internet sites so always buy your goods from a source you trust. You can also look out for products sold in packaging that features spelling or grammatical mistakes.”

ALAN FERGUSON | [email protected]

http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/local-news/articles/2015/06/04/983800-clydebank-shops-could-be-stocking-dangerous-fake-booze-warns-top-cop/